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I looked for a simple and effective way to answer such a complex question in one blogpost: finding out the future interior design and product trends is not a simple question, which could be answered in just one blog page…

So I thought about five keywords that recap 5 interior and product design trends that could last over time and represent how the future of design will look like. I focused on interior and product design, as for ITALIANBARK focus, but these words can have a wider scope to be part of broader discussion about the future of design.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

To discover the latest design trends, you can get your copy of

N/T – the eBook about News and Trends from Milan Design Week 2018 to last in 2019.

You will find the complete report from Milan Design Week, including the top colors + other trends for 2019 divided into themes/patterns/shapes.

In addition to this, the eBook features interviews to top international designers and several other contents, totally independent and non-sponsored

DESIGN TREND #1 | Multifunctional

One design, several functions.

The future trend for people is to own less objects than before, with more quality and more functionality, less unnecessary stuff: a decluttered home helps to live a better life, and helps the planet by reducing waste. Houses tend also to be smaller and smaller, so design helps to find out solutions which can have several functions in one single object.

In the product design trends this is translated into multifunctional technology, helping people by adding smart solutions to daily objects and increasing the quality of our lives. Just think for example about kitchen appliances, or about smart home devices, which can make our lives easier…but technology can also help to find solutions to reduce waste and help the environment.

Pikaplant self-watering systems for automatic plant maintenance

Athena collection by Lee are designed to help solve technology-related daily dilemmas

DESIGN TREND #2 | Colorful

After years of minimalism and total white, design is rediscovering color.

Bold and saturated shades are back, like those I talked about in this post about Color Trends 2018 from Milan Design Week; blue, red, orange, violet, yellow mustard, green, or also iridescent colors. Interiors become more and more colorful, decorated with color block and geometric motifs. It’s an 80s comeback, but also generally talking about future interior trends it’s an increasing interest towards color-related issues, as demonstrated for example by Pantone’s success in producing design objects.

DESIGN TREND #3 | Movable

Movable, which also means temporary, evolving, assembled, dismantled.

New generations have no fixed roots, people change their homes more and more often; increasingly popular are the digital nomads, living by changing Country and city from time to time and working in the web. Future home design trend is to be smart, inexpensive, easy-to-carry, easy-to-assemble and dismantled. IKEA success starts from this fact and the brand now opens also to well-known designers and brands to design not-expensive, smart and easy furniture.

DESIGN TREND #4 | Raw

Design becomes highly tactile.

Finishes are natural and raw, reflecting a desire for going back to the essential. Marble, granite, terrazzo, raw wood and concrete are some of the most popular materials because of their textures. Handmade products are more and more loved because of their uniqueness and imperfection, with increasing popularity of handmade ceramics, blown glass, weaved rugs, and e-shops selling and promoting handmade design such as Etsy.com. Product design trend goes towards imperfection, tactile and handmade qualities.

DESIGN TREND #5 | Hybrid

Hybrid means culture mix, style mix, contaminations, pattern.

This is the result of a continuous cultural exchange, virtually thanks to the net, but also in real life thanks to fast and low-cost ways for travelling also on far distances. On the other side it is also the result of people migrations, due to political-economical-natural serious issues that force people to move. This generate new interesting Cross-Culture collaborations, melting pots design collections and also changes our own taste towards design.

Also, the trendiest interior styles are a mix of different moods. I talked for example about Japandi interior trend, which matches wabi sabi Japanese philosophy with Scandinavian minimalism; or about the scandi-boho interior style, combining Scandinavian and Bohemian inspiration.

What’s next?

Elisabetta is the mastermind behind ITALIANBARK.
She studied Architecture at the University of Venice and Interior Design at London Saint Martin’s and is currently working as a creative consultant + web content creator through her interior and design studio.